Bill > S359

This bill amends Section 14 of Chapter 19A of the General Laws to explicitly include "compulsive hoarding" within the definition of "abuse" when it affects an elderly person. Compulsive hoarding is described as the accumulation and keeping of numerous items that create excessively cluttered living spaces, making it difficult for the elderly person to perform basic self-care or posing a threat to their health and safety. The bill clarifies that this definition applies even if the elderly person doesn't recognize the risks associated with their hoarding, but it also states that relying on religious treatment from a practitioner will not be considered abuse or neglect on its own. The purpose of this legislation, as indicated by the government summary, is to protect the health and safety of elders who suffer from hoarding disorder.